Courtney Wrouvel Data Analyst • Student • Data Analyst • Online
Aug 09, 2022
How it startedAre you looking for a program that is quick, and easy? This isn’t the path for you. Deciding to join a field I have no experience or knowledge in, is one of the most difficult and rewarding choices I’ve made. I started this mission at a point in my life where I wanted a challenge, to see what I was capable of. I needed to find a program that would facilitate this challenge. I wanted an education that could offer me more than PowerPoints and manda...
How it startedAre you looking for a program that is quick, and easy? This isn’t the path for you. Deciding to join a field I have no experience or knowledge in, is one of the most difficult and rewarding choices I’ve made. I started this mission at a point in my life where I wanted a challenge, to see what I was capable of. I needed to find a program that would facilitate this challenge. I wanted an education that could offer me more than PowerPoints and mandatory Zoom lectures. Dedication is required, if you want to succeed in this bootcamp. The motivational speaker T. Harv Eker said it best, ““The only time you are actually growing is when you are uncomfortable.”
Why PracticumI did my research to see what made Practicum different from other programs, and I highly suggest you do the same. This program introduces what a Data Analyst does, by teaching skills in a realistic project format. Unlike most programs, we don’t take tests. We work at our own pace. A general calendar is given, but it’s only to help us stay on course. There is no grading scale.
I wondered, how is the program structured? Our goal is to complete lessons on an interactive platform and apply those lessons to a project. It’s broken down into manageable chapters, and further broken down into lessons. You project is reviewed, comments are left, and you have unlimited opportunity’s to fix and resubmit it. It’s very stress-free, and the reviewer offers guidance and suggestions. They are very encouraging.
What does a Data Analyst do?I gathered general information about the purpose of a Data Analyst: identifying efficiencies, problem areas, or possible improvements for businesses. We learn what it means to import, inspect, clean, transform, validate, collect process and interpret data. But what does that mean? The best way to understand is with a real life example. If a gaming company wants to develop a marketing strategy, they hire a data analyst. They would provide visual reports as to which factors have the highest impact on revenue: is it genre, is it rating, maybe platform?? We learn how to pick up trends in the data.
With the ability to code, we learn to answer complex business decisions. This program also gives us access on how to acquire data, to answer those questions.
Can I do this?I had no idea what a data analyst was, all I knew was they can work remotely and make good money. A huge question I needed to know: “Do I need a college degree to be a Data Analyst?” The answer is: No!! But you might want to refresh your functions and statistics skills. You’ll be able to lean on tutors, StackOverflow, and Youtube for support.
Another question I asked: “Are they hiring remote jobs that pay well?” I continue to check daily, and yes!! I have the privilege of narrowing down the companies, based on the type I want to work for.
They are motivated to help you find a career. My main skepticism was their price to take the course. Why is the program significantly more affordable than others like it? Practicum is still relativity new - which means the students are helping them develop and improve the user experience.
I didn’t recognize any of the subjects listed in the program that I would be learning. Before I started, I wondered, “Will I succeed if I have NO experience?” The answer is, YES!!! I look at it like I’m learning a new language. I don’t consider myself a fast learner, however I am able to keep up with the pace. The tutors offer zoom meetings, you can share your screen and receive guidance. Often, they teach me insider tricks, tips, and hacks, that only come from working experience. I learned to focus on the concepts, rather than trying to memorize the code. Data Analysts often have resources they refer to when working on projects.
Communication Slack is a messaging platform that Practicum uses. We use this to communicate with our tutors, community manager, professor, and other students. You can see what other students ask, or ask your own questions. This has been a great resource when I’m stuck on an error, or need an extension. I also use the support chat within the lesson I am working on. If your error is simple, they are able to help you quickly.
Program SupportThis program is designed to help students succeed. It’s very hard, which I’ve learned to appreciate. I will admit, there are moments during this course that I’ve doubted myself. It felt as though I was not able to absorb all this new information. A tutor convinced me to trust the process, telling me it was slowly begin to become second nature. No matter how hard I am struggling: I can always get more time, I can always get more help, and I am never alone. I put my skills to the test when we did our Integrated Project. I was able to recall and apply the new information I once found impossibly challenging.
Anxiety contributes to why I have not had success with traditional online programs. Deadlines often discouraged me, fearing my lifestyle would interfere with meeting them. Practicum is flexible. The community manager is REALLY going to help you. When a particular “sprint” is difficult, I’ve been given one week extensions for extra time and support. Also, they offer students breaks. I was able to take a week off from my studies without falling behind. The team at Practicum encourages you to take these extensions and breaks when you need them.
The extensions and breaks made the largest impact on my success. The supper they offer, and the way they communicate that support, is the number one reason I recommended this program over others that offer similar skills.
Career Support The projects you’ve created are resources for a resume. They provide realistic tasks you could expect to perform for a client or company. Data workers are in high demand, because coding is a valuable experience to most employers. As it continues to grow, the STEM field is in high demand of workers. This career is versatile, there are many different career paths you can transition to: software engineering, data scientist, etc. Joining a STEM field is a safe investment with my future.